Gustav Metzger – Featured Artist

At the heart of Gustav Metzger’s best-known work rests a seeming contradiction: The truest work of creation contains within itself the seeds of its own destruction. Working with acids and liquid crystals, Metzger often made his art to fall apart, break down or disappear entirely — and in doing so, better reflect the crumbling world around it. – NPR

I don’t think I kept any of my work. I sold a lot of it on eBay. Some of it went to a gallery in Georgia. Some of it has been traveling around the world for years now, stopping at different libraries. One library in Japan asked for one of my original art journals, and I gave it to them. San Fransisco library has one, also. I gave a lot away back then. I was in numerous art groups online. We did round robins, and spent a fortune in stamps for mail art. I idolized Ray Johnson, and got a lot of ideas from him.

Some of it was left on benches, in parks, under bridges, in between books at the library. A few of my old art journals were thrown up into trees out on an old dirt road near the OK border. I never went back to see what happened to them. Hopefully, they were found, but who knows? I didn’t really care. It felt so liberating to be free of something that was such a huge part of me.

As for photos, I had a blog back then named Ephemera, and I would post something for only 24 hours, and then delete it. If I did have photos, they are long gone. It used to drive my mother crazy..”why do you keep deleting everything?? I didn’t have a chance to read yesterday’s post yet, and your site is all black.” I’d tell her she had to be quicker than that. haha Every day, regardless of whether I had a new post written or not, I’d delete what I had posted the day before. I never wanted to think of my art as being precious, so I didn’t allow myself to be attached to it..kinda what you’re going through now. It was all part of the destruction, I guess. 😀

I haven’t forgotten this strand of conversation nor have I forgotten your expressed curiosity. Do you have an email address where I can reach you? I was all set to share some stuff with you but it’s too bulky/much for the comments section of your blog. Thanks!

I was interested in Gustav’s work because years ago I loved to do the same thing. I went through a destructive phase, and I did whatever I could to “ruin” every piece I made. Not with acid (too scary), but by distressing my work. I’ve left art journals, and paintings outside for months at a time, after soaking them in a bucket of coffee or tea to fox the pages. The paper is so lovely once it dries out. I’ve thrown my journals in mud puddles, and left them there to soak up the dirt, and grime. I’ve even driven over some in my car. haha Talk about not having an attachment to your work, eh? 😉 It was like a science experiment to me. I never knew how anything would turn out, and I lost all control of the outcome. It was so much fun!

Painter, licensed artist, blogger. My artwork can be seen on Criminal Minds on CBS. If you like my art, and want to license it, please contact me.

Above all else, it is about leaving a mark that I existed: I was here. I was hungry. I was defeated. I was happy. I was sad. I was in love. I was afraid. I was hopeful. I had an idea and I had a good purpose and that’s why I made works of art. – Felix Gonzalez-Torres